Responding, IoF Chief Executive Peter Lewis said:
"The IoF is committed to setting high standards for fundraising. Treating any individual’s data properly and according to legislative requirements is fundamental and we have always been clear that our members, and all charities, must follow the law."

Responding to the Information Commissioner Christopher Graham’s evidence to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee, the Institute of Fundraising’s Chief Executive Peter Lewis said;

"The IoF is committed to setting high standards for fundraising. Treating any individual’s data properly and according to legislative requirements is fundamental and we have always been clear that our members, and all charities, must follow the law.

"The revelations over the summer have shaken the fundraising sector and we have been working hard to respond swiftly to the concerns that have been raised. The IoF responded to amend the Code within two weeks of receiving a request from the ICO to do so. We welcome the Commissioner’s recognition that the charity sector is taking these issues seriously and responding positively.

"We have also reviewed our Code of Fundraising Practice and committing to bringing in a number of important changes that will improve the fundraising experience for all. These include:

prohibiting the selling of a supporter’s data

making sure that ‘opt-out’ boxes aren’t hidden away in the small print

making it much easier for supporters to tell a charity that they don’t want to receive fundraising communications.

"It is vital that charities work to stamp out any cases of bad practice in fundraising to regain the trust of the public and to raise money for the good causes they work on. The recommendations made by Sir Stuart Etherington in his review of fundraising regulation, including setting up a new independent Fundraising Regulator, set the right direction for regulation in the future and the IoF looks forward to continuing to play a full part in building a new, stronger system of charity fundraising."